Sensing means for record controlled sorting machines



Inventor 4 0/1142 61 6 A tlomey 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IllILl H N G HOLDENSENSING MEANS FOR RECORD CONTROLLED SORTING MACHINES Dec. 30, 1952 FiledAug 1, 1950 Dec. 30, 1952 HOLDEN 2,623,693

ssusmc MEANS FOR RECORD CONTROLLED SORTING MACHINES Filed Aug. .1, 19502 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Inventor fl azzvwza ow Attorney Patented Dec. 30, 1952SENSING MEANS FOR RECORD CON- TROLLED SORTING MACHINES Norman GeoffreyHolden, Carshalton, England,

assignor to Powers-Samas Accounting Machines Limited, London, England, aBritish comp any Application August 1, 1950, Serial No. 177,010 In GreatBritain August 10, 1949 Claims.

This invention relates to record controlled sorting machines and inparticular to a sorting machine in which the records are sortedaccording to a comparison of data recorded on pairs of record cards.

In machines for sorting perforated record cards sorting is sometimeseffected by positioning and retaining a master card in a sensingposition and feeding secondary cards to be compared therewith seriatimto a second sensing position. The master card and a card to be comparedtherewith are sensed simultaneously by sensing pins which pass throughthe perforations in the cards and the sensed data, usually a combinationof figures is automatically set up in a comparing unit which determinesthe position to which the secondary card is delivered on being releasedfrom the position at which it is sensed. Usually a considerable numberof secondary cards is compared with the master card and this entails thepassage of the sensing pins through the perforations in the master cardduring each sensing operation in which a secondary card is comparedtherewith with the result that the perforations in the master card tendultimately to become deformed.

It is an object of the invention to provide means whereby a mastersetting can be manually set in one part of a comparing unit andcontained therein while the other part of a unit is settableautomatically as a result of the sensing of secondary cards in the usualmanner, thus avoiding the use of master cards.

According to the invention there is provided in a sorting machineincluding a device for comparing data automatically settable in twocolumns of differentially settable registering elements such as racks orslides, apparatus comprising manually operable means associated with oneof the said columns to render ineffective the automatic setting of therespective registering elements and permit the manual setting of theseelements.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodimentthereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows a part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with certain ofthe elements in different positions from that shown in Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view to an enlarged 2 scale of a part of theapparatus shown in Figure 1. I

Referring to the drawings, the registering unit shown therein comprisestwo plates 1 and 2 to which differential movements are to be impartedrepresenting the digits to be registered as a result of automaticoperation resulting from sensing of a master and a secondary cardrespectively.

The automatic movement of the plates l and 2 is effected by fingers 3and 4 pivoted on the plates I and 2 the fingers 3 and 4 actuated byactuator pins 5 in the manner described in United Kingdom patentspecification No. 597,492. crank levers 6 are pivoted at 1 to a frame 8one arm of each be1lcrank being pivotally connected at 9 to a plate I or2. The other arm of each bell-crank is pivotally connected at Iii toregistering elements H and I2, these elements being shown in thedrawings as vertically reciprocable slides.

Although in the present description only one pair of slides H and 12 aredescribed one being adapted to operate each side of the comparator unit,not shown, it is to be understood that the registering elements eachcomprise a unitary slide II and [2, in a column of slides disposed onebehind the other. Each of the slides in a column is actuated by pins 5,fingers 3, plate I or 2 and bell-cranks 6 as described above. Thus if,for example, a column is to accommodate a six figure number, six slideswill be provided therefor. For simplicity herein reference will be madeonly to one pair of slides as the operation of all of the pairs ofslides associated with the comparator unit will b similar.

Each set of fingers 3 and 4 is controlled by a reciprocable shutter l3operable at each cycle of the machine by a bar 14 mounted on a rockshaft [5. The shaft i5 is rocked by any suitable mechanism, not shown. I

As shown in Figure 1 both sides of the registering mechanism are adaptedfor automatic operation under the control of the machine to which theapparatus is fitted but the registering elements I l on the left-handside of the unit have associated therewith a device whereby theautomatic operation thereof may be rendered ineffective and the elementsset up manually to retain a number in the comparator unit while theregistering elements at the righthand side of the apparatus continue tobe automatically operated as the result of sensing secondary cards. Themeans whereby the registering elements I I are set manually and theautomatic Belloperation of the device rendered ineffective will now bedescribed.

The manual setting of a registering element H is effected by anadjusting element l6 having a sloping face H. The adjusting element Itis flat and is mounted between two plates l8 and iii, the lower edges ofthe cam sliding in grooves 2 Figure 3, formed in the plate 18.Projecting from the upper edge or the adjusting element It is a handleits by which the adjusting element is manually set. The handle 16apasses through a slot 22 in the plate iii, the slot being of a lengthsuch as to permit the required lengthwise movement of the adjustingelement during setting thereof. To prevent the adjusting element it fromtipping sideways or rising from its guide groove 2% in plate I8, twosmall plates 21v are secured to the adjusting element I6 and slide onthe undersurface of the plate it.

Mounted on the adjusting element detent 23 having a V-shaped upper edgeto register in V-shaped notches 24 formed in the undersurface of theplate E9. The detent 23 is provided with a slot 25 and the detent isslidable lengthwise on shanks formed on screws 26 screwed into theadjustin element It through the slot The bottom of the detent 23. isengaged by a pivoted lever 27 urged by a spring 28 towards plate [9.Thus, as the adjusting element is moved lengthwise beneath the plate isthe detent 23 ratchets past the V-notches until the desired position ofthe register is reached when the detent registers in the notch providedat this position.

A sleeve like member fitted round the upper portion of the registeringelement I! is secured thereto by a screw 33, and forms on theregistering element an abutment which is engaged by the adjustingelement it. The member 29 is provided with a slot 3! to permit themember to be adjusted to compensate for wear or during initial settingof the apparatus. As can be seen from Figure 3, the plate 59 is providedwith ten notches 24 representing positions of register for the digits 0to 9 and the registering element H is adjusted vertically todifierential positions corresponding to these digits. When the adjustingelement It is inactive it occupies the position shown in Fig. l, inwhich it is retained by the detent 23 in the 0 position. As shown inFig. 1 the registering element H is also occupying its 0 position.

When the apparatus is being operated automatically the reciprocableshutter I 3 is, as stated above, reciprocated at each cycle of themachine and it is, therefore necessary to render the shutter ineffectivewhen the apparatus has been set manually to retain a number in theleft-hand side of the unit, To this end a catch shownas a bar 32 ismovable with the shutter i3 and a latch 33 to co-opera-te'with the catch32 is pivotally mounted on spindle 34 secured in the frame. 8. Thelatch33 is urged by a spring 35 towards the catch 32 but when the adjustingelementit is in the Zero position as shown in Figures 1 and 3 a pin atextending laterally therefrom engages a tail 3? on the latch 33 andretains the latch out of latching engagement with the catch 32. Thecatch 32 moves up and down with the shutter 13 and when, the adjustingelement It is moved from the zero position, in the direction of thearrow A, Figure 3, the pin 36 is moved away from the tail 3'! so that onthe next downward movement of the shutter !3 the spring 35 causes thelatch 33 to IE is arotate clockwise to move the latching face 38 thereofinto the path of the catch 32 thereby preventing the shutter from againrising. The shutter is therefore rendered ineffective and althoughduring subsequent cycles the shaft I5 is rocked the shutter is notoperated. Accordingly the setting which has been manually effected tothe registerin elements I I at the left-hand side of the unit remainseffective until the adjusting elements are restored to their normal zeroposition, or inactive position. During movement of the adjusting element16 to its inactive position the pin 36 acts as a trip member to releasethe latch 33 from the catch 32 thus causing the shutter again to bereleased and thereby rendered effective.

While the apparatus is set with a manual setting the master number whichis set up in the lef -hand side of the comparator unit by the manuallyset adjusting elements is compared with the successive numbers set up inthe righth-and side of the comparator unit by the registering elementsl2 as a result of sensing operations on secondary cards.

It will be seen, therefore, that a machine fitted with apparatusaccording to the invention can operate automatically in normal manner,or when secondary cards are to be compared against a single masternumber, the master number can be manually set up in one side of thecomparator unit and retained therein thus ob viating the necessity ofemploying a master card.

claim:

1. In a sortin machine having a column of differentially settableregistering elements, i111" pulse transmitting means for automaticallycffecting setting of the registering elements in the column undercontrol of statistical records, and cyclically operable means permittingimpulses from said transmitting means to be transmitted to theregistering elements, a manually operable adjusting element for eachregistering element of said column to effect setting of the registeringelements, and interrupter means between said adjusting elements andcyclically operable means, said interrupter means on operation of anadjusting element to effect setting of a registering element beinginterposed thereby in the path of said cyclically operable means toprevent the cyclic operation thereof and so prevent automatic setting ofthe registering elements by the impulse transmitting means therefor.

2. In a sorting machine having a column of differentially settableregistering elements, im-

transmitting means for automatically setting of the registering elementsin in under control of statistical records, and cyclically operablemeans permitting impulses said transmitting means to be transmitted tothe registering elements, a manually or 1. adjusting element for eachregistering element of said column, guides between which the adjustingelements are independently movable from a datum position to any one of anumber of selected positions of register to effect of the registeringelements, interrupter means between said adjusting elements andcyclically operable means, trip means movable with each said adjustingelement to move the interrupter means out of the path of said cyclicanyoperable means and to retain them out of said path when the adjustingelements are in their datum positions, and means to move saidinterrupter means into the path of the cyclically operable means onmovement of the adjusting elements from datum position to prevent thecyclic operation of the cyclically operable means and so preventautomatic setting of the registering elements by the impulsetransmitting means therefor.

3. In a sorting machine having a column of differentially settableregistering elements, impulse transmitting means for automaticallyefl'ecting setting of the registering elements in the column undercontrol of statistical records, and cyclically operable means permittingimpulses from said transmitting means to be transmitted to theregistering elements, a manually operable adjusting element for eachregistering element of said column, guides between which the adjustingelements are independently movable from a datum position to any one of anumber of selected positions of register to effect setting of theregistering elements, a catch movable with said cyclically operablemeans, latches pivoted between said adjusting elements and catch andspring-urged towards said catch for latching engagement therewith toprevent cyclic operation of the cyclically operable means and so preventautomatic setting of the registering elements by the impulsetransmitting means therefor, and trip means movable with each saidadjusting element to move the latches out of the path of said catch andto retain them out of said path when the adjusting elements are in theirdatum positions.

4. In a sorting machine having a column of differentially settableregistering elements, impulse transmitting means for automaticallyeffecting setting of the registering elements in .o

the column under control of statistical records, and cyclically operablemeans permitting impulses from said transmitting means to be transmittedto the registering elements, an abutment on each registering element ofsaid column, a manually operable adjusting element for engagement byeach said abutment to effect manual setting of its registering element,guides between which the adjusting elements are independently movablefrom a datum position to any one of a number of selected positions ofregister to effect setting of the registering elements, interruptermeans between said adjusting elements and cyclically operable means,trip means movable with each said adjusting element to move theinterrupter means out of the path of said cyclically operable means andto retain them out of said path when the adjusting elements are in theirdatum positions, and means to move said interrupter means into the pathof the cyclically operable means on movement of the adjusting elementsfrom datum position to prevent the cyclic operation of the cyclicallyoperable means and so prevent automatic setting of the registeringelements by the impulse transmitting means therefor.

5. In a sorting machine having a column of difierentially settableregistering elements, impulse transmitting means for automaticallyeffecting setting of the registering elements in the column undercontrol of statistical records, and cyclically operable means permittingimpulses from said transmitting means to be transmitted to theregistering elements, a manually operable adjusting element for eachregistering element of said column, guides between which the adjustingelements are independently movable from a datum position to any one of anumber of selected positions of register to efiect setting of theregistering elements, notches formed in one of said guides to determinepositions of register for said adjusting elements, a detent movable withand relative to each said adjusting element in directions towards andaway from said notches, a spring-controlled lever ivoted on each saidadjusting element to engage and urge the detents into said notches whilepermitting the detents to ratchet past the notches during movement ofthe adjusting elements, interrupter means between said adjustingelements and cyclically operable means, trip means movable with eachsaid adjusting element to move the interrupter means out of the path ofsaid cyclically operable means and to retain them out of said path whenthe adjusting elements are in their datum positions, and means to movesaid interrupter means into the path of the cyclically operable means onmovement of the adjusting elements from datum position to prevent thecyclic operation of the cyclically operable means and so preventautomatic setting of the registering elements by the impulsetransmitting means therefor.

NORMAN GEOFFREY HOLDEN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fettig Sept. 12, 1944Number

